The Rugby Thread

[Tredman]

Russell great today - he should be called up before Ford.

Agreed, i'd have had him in the original squad. That said Ford was magnificent against Argentina last week.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Real short term thinking, there have been players in the past who came in late and by the end of the tour were in the test team, while i could see likes of Lauchbury, Russell, Hartley, Ringrose (plus others) could do that, these are no where near that quality

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Not a bad first half but we still look short on creativity and incisiveness.

 

[Jabbawolf]

What has happened to North? Such a poor tour for him so far.

 

[Johnny75]

Shocking decision from Gatland. Joke of a manager.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

1/2p cementing his test spot.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Set pieces were good. Te'o had a good second half. Itoje is quality. But the Maori were not up to much so hard to judge.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Te'o HAS to start the tests. I have been hugely impressed by him.

 

[Jabbawolf]

As things stand, I would go (assuming Farrell out)

Vunipola
Owens
Furlong
Kruis
Itoje
O'Brien
O'Mahony
Faletau
Murray
Sexton
Daly
Te'o
Davies
Watson
Halfpenny

 

[Nando]

George Ford has been absolutely brilliant on this tour.

Another really enjoyable game.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Holding an Argentinian scrum takes some doing - only negative was the poor tackle on Hughes - should have been a yellow - hope his knee is ok.

Don't normally rate Brown, but he was excellent.

 

[Tredman]

Holding an Argentinian scrum takes some doing - only negative was the poor tackle on Hughes - should have been a yellow - hope his knee is ok.

Don't normally rate Brown, but he was excellent.

Said it all. Also not been a brown fan for at least 3 years, he looked very good today.

Utter utter disgrace that launchbury wasn't called up today in favour of any Welsh player available.

 

[jd1981]

Not heard one pundit yet support Gatlands decision, it's clear there's a lot of anger at what he's done basically picking players to be fodder in the midweek team and putting zero pressure on players in the same position as them.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It is a poor call. It basically completely splits the party into midweek and test sides. Bringing in players who could really challenge rather than fill the midweek bench would keep the competition. Very odd.

 

[Dinowolf]

Lions Team to play Chiefs on Tuesday

15. Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales, #833
14. Jack Nowell – Exeter Chiefs, England, #828
13. Jared Payne – Ulster, Ireland, #830
12. Robbie Henshaw – Leinster, Ireland, #824
11. Elliot Daly – Wasps, England, #822
10. Dan Biggar – Ospreys, Wales, #821
9. Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester Rugby, Scotland, #810

1. Joe Marler – Harlequins, England, #811
2. Rory Best (c) – Ulster, Ireland, #793
3. Dan Cole – Leicester Tigers, England, #794
4. Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland, #808
5. Courtney Lawes – Northampton Saints, England, #826
6. James Haskell – Wasps, England, #823
7. Justin Tipuric – Ospreys, Wales, #786
8. CJ Stander – Munster, Ireland, #831

Replacements:
16. Kristian Dacey – Cardiff Blues, Wales
17. Allan Dell – Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland
18. Tomas Francis – Exeter Chiefs, Wales
19. Cory Hill – Newport Gwent Dragons, Wales
20. Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
21. Gareth Davies – Scarlets, Wales
22. Finn Russell – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland
23. Tommy Seymour – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland, #813

 

[Stan Hullis]

Enjoying this one so far.

Stupid YC from Marler though.

Biggar makes it 6-0

 

[Tredman]

Good game so far, nice to see the lions trying to play the ball though their hands.

 

[Nando]

Delighted to see Nowell bag a couple after his less than stellar start to the tour.

 

[Tredman]

Lions team to face New Zealand

Backs: Liam Williams (Wales); Anthony Watson (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Ben Te'o (England), Elliot Daly (England); Owen Farrell (England), Conor Murray (Ireland).

Forwards: Maka Vunipola (England), Jamie George (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland); Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), George Kruis (England); Peter O'Mahony (capt, Ireland), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

No Itoje is a massive call, Kruis and AWJ are both a bit similar to me and we might miss the dynamism of Itoje. Good team otherwise, surprised to see Williams start, but I guess 1/2p isn't needed as much with Farrell playing.


Edit - and no North! He must be injured.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Bizarre to put Williams ahead of 1/2p

Glad to see Daly played himself in. Deserved.